From the GREAT STATE OF MAINE…
Minneapolis---31 Days and Counting
As of today the sixth Netroots Nation convention is one month away!!! This morning I snagged one of the Grand Netrootbahs for a quick update.
Raven Brooks is executive director of the whole kit and caboodle. He got his start in politics as co-founder of BuyBlue.org, which encouraged consumers to “vote with their wallets.” His background is in software development and design, management, business consulting, and project management. Fortune 100 companies and small startups have sought out his expertise. He's a member of the San Francisco New Leaders Council advisory board and was named one of their "Top 40 under 40" emerging leaders in 2008. Raven lives in San Francisco with his wife and two cats. He's an avid cyclist, hiker and outdoor enthusiast. Since I'm an avid Big Wheelist and can see the outdoors from my window, I knew we'd hit it off…
Cheers and Jeers: Netroots Nation is in the home stretch---just four weeks to go. Are you folks herding all the cats okay?
Raven Brooks: Cats? No one told me about cats! Do they need AV? Has Ceiling Cat confirmed yet? Ahhhhhhhh!
On a serious note, we've got an all-star team here which means that we're able to make this look easy, even when things aren't going right. Right now it's crunch time, but everything is running pretty smoothly.
You're the Executive Director of Netroots Nation. What does that involve, and what's your biggest challenge in that position?
I'd say the biggest piece of it is fundraising, followed by a litany of boring operational stuff that has to be done to keep the lights on, with the much more fun programming stuff coming in after that. It feels like there's always some new challenge to conquer, but lately it's been keeping everyone happy for the most part. We set out to make Netroots Nation an inclusive space for all corners of the progressive movement. That's tough to pull off when various camps have disagreements ranging from strong difference of opinion to nuclear pie fight.
Is there a cutoff date to register for the convention?
Nope, you can walk up to the registration desk on the day it starts, or even a day or two into it and register. But we wouldn't recommend that. You'll pay a premium and it makes our lives harder with respect to planning. So register as early as you can at our website.
One of the highlights of Netroots Nation will be the keynote by former Senator Russ Feingold. How did you folks pull that off? Was he eager to attend?
We've wanted to get Russ Feingold to Netroots Nation for quite a while. It hadn't worked out for various reasons in the past, but with the events in Wisconsin and his new project to take on the Citizens United ruling it worked out this time. He and his team are thrilled to be there this year to talk with everyone.
Pretty much every big speaker we've had ultimately comes down to relationships. If you know the folks who work for that big speaker then they can help make the case to get them to come. Firing off a cold email to someone you don't know almost never works.
Besides Russ, who are some of the luminaries who will be rubbing elbows with the rabble?
We were focusing on getting the panels out early this year, so a lot of the big keynote sessions are still coming together. But there are some amazing panels this year if you haven't had a chance to check them out. I wrote a diary with some of my favorites shortly after we announced them.
We've since started adding panelists on our site so go back and check it out; there are some really solid lineups. One "first" we have this year is the first panel actually submitted and organized by a sitting member of Congress. Normally they just show up and speak for panels, but Congressman Jerry Nadler actually went through the process like everyone else this year for a panel titled, The Plan to Advance Marriage Equality, Inside and Outside of the 112th Congress.
Another cool thing about this year: we'll have bloggers from 20+ countries attending Netroots Nation. Some of these folks are the people leading revolutions in Egypt, Tunisia, etc and we'll have several of them on panels and give everyone a chance to meet them.
This is the first convention in Minneapolis. Any attractions you're eager to check out or recommend to people?
Minneapolis is a great city, and it also has the benefit of not being five billion degrees in the summer. If you can make it in a few days early or stay a few days late there's lots of fun to be had on the Mississippi, at the surrounding lakes, and the Twins are in town playing ball. There's an area called the Nicollet Mall that runs right by the convention center, definitely worth checking out. They've even got a farmers market on Thursdays so you can take time over that break on Thursday to go stock up.
Do you need any volunteers to help out before or during the event? If so how can people contact you?
We could definitely use volunteer help, that's our real secret to pulling this thing off. If you're interested all you need to do is email Shanna Ingalsbee at volunteers@netrootsnation.org.
On the personal side: What kind of music makes you feel invincible to the GOP horde?
My taste in music is all over the map and this time of year services like Pandora and Rdio get a heavy workout. Lately some of the artists that have been on repeat a lot include Ben Harper, Mumford & Sons, and The Streets.
What's the one book every Kossack must read?
Aside from all of Markos' books? Seriously, go buy them all now! (I'll take that promo fee later, Markos.) It might surprise folks to learn that I don't tend to read a lot of non-fiction. I read enough to stay up on what people like Markos, or Eli Pariser or Mike Lux are thinking, but that's about it. When I pick something up it's usually for escapism and enjoyment.
Probably the most inspirational book I've read in the last several years is Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike. What all of us do daily is hard, and it's even harder to stay motivated sometimes. I've consistently come back to this book and it's been helpful.
Finish this sentence: In the kitchen I make a mean…
Brisket! It's so good people from all over San Francisco brave their New Year's Day hangovers to enjoy it.
No waffling here: dogs or cats?
No contest. Cats.
Anything I've missed that you want people to know about the convention?
For everyone who's been, whether that's once or twice or you've got perfect attendance, it's going to be even better this year and we're looking forward to having you back. For all the n00bs out there who haven't been, you'll want to come this year! We're going to be rolling out some diaries over the coming weeks where Kossacks you know and love relate their personal experiences. Some of them have been life changing.
We've got a group we're building up here on Daily Kos, so follow it by going to our group page and you won't miss out on any of the action between now and June.
Cheers and Jeers starts below the fold... [Swoosh!!] RIGHTNOW! [Gong!!]
Cheers and Jeers for Monday, May 16, 2011
Note: Saturday night I watched the Red Sox pound the Yankees with the dexterity of a cardiovascular surgeon and the mercy of the Inquisition. And my spirit was replenished.
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By the Numbers:
Days 'til Memorial Day: 14
Days `til the Isleton Cajun Festival in California: 33 (via Kosaack Barakabeth)
Rank of Apple, Google, IBM and McDonald's among the most valuable brands in the world: #1, #2, #3, #4
(Source: Millward Brown)
Percent increase in corporate profits last year: 29.2%
Years since corporate growth rose that fast: 50
(Source: The New York Times via The Week)
Percent of Egyptians who say they want the Muslim Brotherhood in power there: 17%
(Source: Time)
Percent chance that potential GOP presidential contender Jon Huntsman supports civil unions for gay and lesbian couples: 100%
(Source: Nate Silver)
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This Week's Words of Wisdom from the Right-wing Blogosphere:
I'm old, and my patience was already at a minimum. but thanks to Mr. McConnell, that patience has now ceased to exist. Oh, Republican leaders say they learned their lesson in 2008. Obviously, Mr. McConnell, you did not. It’s only taken you 6 months to forget who brung ya to the dance. You are a spineless wimp and it is my hope that you are out of a leadership position in 2012. I’ve seen leaders, and you sir, are no leader.
All together now: One…two…three… Tyranny!!!
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Puppy Pic of the Day: This is Dog Bite Awareness Week. Trust me---you will be very aware if a dog bites you.
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CHEERS to livin' the good life as a Fox News kingmaker/rock star. That's Mike Huckabee's plan for at least the next four years, after announcing Saturday that he is not…repeat, not…running for president. The move will likely shore up the strength of the candidate currently in first place: "None Of The Above." But fear not---Huck will continue commenting on the 2012 campaign with his delicate wit, as he displayed four years ago today when he'd just become an ex-candidate:
During a speech before the National Rifle Association convention…Mike Huckabee...joked that an unexpected offstage noise was Democrat Barack Obama looking to avoid a gunman. "That was Barack Obama, he just tripped off a chair, he's getting ready to speak," said the former Arkansas governor, to audience laughter. "Somebody aimed a gun at him and he dove for the floor."
You stay classy, Beaverface.
P.S. Today is Trumphog Day! This morning America woke up and saw The Celebrity Apprentice on NBC's 2011-2012 schedule. The network claims it can get a new host to carry on if The Donald runs for president. But you and I already know…that won’t be necessary.
JEERS to water, water, everyfriggin'where. First, the local scene: the weekend weather here in Maine was dreary as hell, and the forecast calls for nothing but clouds and showers through next Saturday Tuesday. Am I complaining? Hell no. Because every time I turn on the Weather Channel, I see one badass and pissed-off Mississippi River causing misery on a scale that would make Noah murmer, "We're gonna need a bigger boat." The Red Cross site is here. Other than that I don’t know what to say. This is one of those times when you just wish you could pack your bags and leave the world behind.
CHEERS to packin' your bags and leavin' the world behind. Assuming they pass their TSA patdowns and gamma-ray body scans, the crew of the Space Shuttle Endeavor will blast off in a few minutes on the craft's final voyage to the International Space Station. (Commander Mark Kelly's wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, will be watching it live in Florida.) Their task ahead:
During the 16-day mission, Endeavour and its crew will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for Dextre.
C&J has learned that NASA originally planned to have the Shuttle fly one more mission to Washington, D.C. to fix the government. They decided against it once they realized the crew would run out of oxygen before they could remove all the nuts.
JEERS to the new hostage standoff. The Very Serious People on my weekend teevee kept telling me some variation on this theme yesterday: "Republicans are so crazy that they'll blow up the world economy by voting against raising the debt ceiling unless Democrats (aka the responsible ones) cave to their demands---dismantling Medicare, de-funding Planned Parenthood, all their greatest hits---and get nothing in return." I hope my party surprises me by showing some backbone, but I've seen this movie too many times: this is going to end badly for us. That the debt ceiling will be raised isn't in doubt for one second and never has been and never will be. What is murky still is the extent of the concessions our conserva-Democratic leaders will unnecessarily make in order to appear to get along with their middle-class-killing colleagues across the aisle. The GOP, it should be noted, will still complain that job-killing socialist Democrat obstructionists didn’t cede enough, while taking full credit for saving the world. Sorry…hope I didn’t spoil the ending for ya.
JEERS to the big mess. Peace negotiator George Mitchell to Israel and Palestine after devoting two years of his life on their behalf in search of a settlement: "Screw you guys…I'm going home!" The 77 year-old Mitchell says he now plans to take up slightly less challenging tasks. Like solving Rubik's cubes blindfolded, pulling the huge plastic garbage patch in the Pacific to shore with his teeth, and figuring out his phone bill.
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Five years ago in C&J: May 16, 2006
CHEERS to Molly Ivins. The ol' gal likes us! She really really likes us:
The danger of the blogosphere is reading only those you agree with. While there are right-wing blogs that are entertaining freak shows, it's hard to find substantial journalism there. I hate to list bloggers I like because I'm bound to leave out so many, but here goes: Daily Kos, Eschaton, Altercation, Political Animal and Media Matters.
Swoon...
JEERS to Newt Gingrich. On Meet the Press and a local New Hampshire PBS talk show, he revealed his latest verbal jousting maneuver: paint the Democrats as the party of "San Francisco and Vermont." That's about as smooth as telling your cancer-stricken wife you're leavin' her for another woman. Ain't he just a big ball `o cuddly?
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And just one more…
CHEERS to Good Government 101: Revisited. I've been thinking about who our team might field for a 2016 White house run. I can't see Biden making a bid. Hillary says there's a rocking chair with her name on it at the end of Obama's first term. So that leaves things pretty wide open. One person whom I hope is thinking of tossing his branding iron in the fire is Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. He seems to have the guts, horse sense, humor, showmanship, overseas experience, and connection to "real folks" that would make him a formidable foe. I bring this up because I came across something he said about the teabaggers a year ago on The Rachel Maddow Show. It sounded like it could've come out of the mouth of Franklin Roosevelt in his "I welcome their hatred" mode. This is tough-guy poetry:
"The tea party people get up in the morning and they make phone calls to each other that they‘re going to go to a rally. And they use a subsidized telephone system. Then they drive down a road that was built by the government that is protected by government workers called highway patrolmen. They get to a rally and they carry their signs and they're protected by the firemen and the policemen who are in that town. And then they eagerly drive home and say, "It was a success---we‘re against the government!"
So you have got to have government that works. In Montana, we‘re one of the two states that have a surplus. We have $400 million in the bank. But I'm still challenging expenses. I‘m not cutting government. We‘re challenging expenses of government, the same way small businesses and some big businesses all over the country are. It‘s not a sin to be frugal. It‘s not a sin to challenge expenses.
But it is a sin to cut back on education for our most valuable resource. And when we‘re expected to keep people in prison, we should keep them in prison. Don‘t turn them loose because you‘ve got a bad budget. That‘s government that doesn‘t work.
Obviously it's way early and we still have the skinny guy with the funny name's second term to secure. But I'm keeping Schweitzer in the back of my mind. To coin a phrase, I like the cut of his jib. He's a common-sense scrapper, and lord knows that's what we're gonna need.
Last week before the Rapture Saturday. Exciting! Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today?
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"The quality of Cheers and Jeers can influence the quality of the parent-child relationship and vice versa. In addition, other research suggests that Cheers and Jeers may negatively impact sleep."
---Anne Mannering
Oregon State University
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